Money Management

Love all things pumpkin? Read on to learn about Dunkin’s new fall lineup. 

What happened

Pumpkin spice fans can finally rejoice. On Aug. 16, the Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte officially landed on Dunkin’s menu after a 258-day hiatus. Dunkin’ customers can also now order other pumpkin-flavored drinks and a variety of seasonal baked goods, like pumpkin donuts and muffins.

So what

Dunkin’s pumpkin lineup is a favorite among fans of the chain, but it’s only available for a limited period of time — commonly during the fall. But in keeping with the trend of introducing seasonal products ahead of the season, Dunkin’ is making its pumpkin collection available to customers in August.

“Every year, we can practically feel the buzz around our pumpkin lineup,” said Jill McVicar Nelson, Chief Marketing Officer at Dunkin’. “It’s truly amazing to see our fans light up for this cherished flavor.”

Now what

Many people will no doubt jump at the chance to get their pumpkin fix on — even at a time when temperatures are still scorching and they’re not quite ready for fall. And once the weather cools, fans will no doubt be even more eager to load up on pumpkin-flavored drinks and treats at Dunkin’.

But before you start planning your daily Dunkin’ pumpkin run, do remember that the cost of those specialty drinks can add up to a large credit card tab at the end of the month. Dunkin’ prices can vary regionally, but in some markets, you may be looking at $4.59 for a Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte. Buy one 20 times in a single month, and you’re talking about spending roughly $92 on coffee alone.

Given that a lot of people are still having trouble managing their bills in the wake of lingering inflation, you may want to indulge your pumpkin spice habit at a more modest pace. Buying one latte a week from Dunkin’ could be a savvier move for your finances.

Now that said, you can save money on your Dunkin’ purchases by signing up for the chain’s rewards program. You’ll earn 10 points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases, and you can redeem your points for free food and drinks. The program also gives you access to special promotions that help you save money on Dunkin’ goods. And since it’s free, it’s worth signing up for.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Commercial-free Hulu and Disney+ plans will cost more on Oct. 12, but a new ad-free bundle offers significant savings. Find out how much Duo Premium costs. 

Streaming apps are popular. A 2023 Leichtman Research Group, Inc. study found that 83% of all U.S. households have a subscription video-on-demand service from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and/or Hulu. The same study found that 88% of U.S. households use at least one streaming service of some kind, even if it’s not one of the three mentioned above.

Over the years, many streaming services have increased in price. What used to be an affordable entertainment solution may no longer be the case for some Americans. The Walt Disney Company recently announced price changes that will impact some users who subscribe to Hulu and Disney+.

Prepare to pay more for ad-free Hulu and Disney+ content

For the most part, the upcoming pricing changes will impact ad-free plans. Hulu’s ad-free plan costs $14.99 per month. But the price will increase to $17.99 monthly on Oct. 12. The ad-free Disney+ plan, Disney Premium, will increase from $10.99 to $13.99 monthly on Oct. 12.

With a $3 monthly increase for each plan, subscribers must budget an additional $36 annually to keep the same plan. Those who subscribe to both ad-free plans would need to account for an additional $72 in their annual streaming budget. That’s a lot of money for the average person.

Expect pricing changes to these bundles

In addition to the pricing increases mentioned above, The Walt Disney Company noted that two of its bundled plans would soon cost more. Expect pricing changes to these bundles in October:

Trio Basic, which features ad-supported Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ content, will rise in price from $12.99 to $14.99 monthly.Trio Premium, which features ad-free Disney+ content, ad-free Hulu content, and ESPN+ (with ads), will increase in price from $19.99 to $24.99.

This new streaming bundle can save you serious cash

But there’s some good news in all this talk about higher prices. A new bundle will be made available starting on Sept. 6. Duo Premium, which will feature ad-free Disney+ and Hulu content, will cost $19.99. This bundle will offer serious savings.

Considering the upcoming price changes, subscribing to the ad-free Hulu plan and Disney Premium would cost you $31.98 monthly. But if you bundle these plans by subscribing to Duo Premium, you’ll pay only $19.99 monthly.

That’s a savings of $11.99 per month or $143.88 annually. This could be an excellent way to keep more money in your checking account without giving up your favorite ad-free Hulu and Disney content.

What to do if you don’t want to pay more

Any price increase, no matter how small, impacts your wallet. Knowing about these price changes before October gives you time to decide what to do. For some, the additional cost may be too much or make the service no longer worthwhile. Here are some options to explore:

Downgrade your plan: If you’re okay with streaming ads in exchange for a lower subscription price, you may want to downgrade your plan. Hulu with ads costs $7.99 monthly, and Disney Basic (with ads) costs $7.99 monthly. Both of these ad-supported plans are more affordable.

Bundle your plans if possible: If you subscribe to multiple streaming services, check to see if a bundle is available that could help you save money. The brand-new Duo Premium bundle highlighted above could be a great option to explore if you use Disney+ and Hulu.

Rotate your streaming apps: While having multiple streaming platform options available at once can be nice, paying for multiple services each month can get expensive. Some people rotate the services they use and pay for to keep costs low. When you’re ready to give another service a go, pause one of your subscriptions and reactivate another.

For additional ways to save money, check out our personal finance resources.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com and Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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